Method of and apparatus for vial transferring and changing

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1 further characterized by scanning each Y-axis coordinate of said array to determine whether each said coordinate contains at least one vial and automatically indexing the entire array along the X-axis past any Y-axis coordinate devoid of at least one vial to the next Y-axis coordinate containing at least one vial.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 1 further characterized by scanning each X-axis coordinate of the row of vials being indexed along the Y-axis to determine the presence or absence of a vial at each such X-axis coordinate and automatically indexing any X-axis coordinate in said row devoid of a vial past said point along said Y-axis coordinate.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 1 further characterized in that each vial positioned at said point is transferred from said point to a counting station and back to said point before the next succeeding vial is indexed to said point.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 4 further characterized in that the vial is transferred between said point and said counting station along a Z-axis.

Claim 7

A test sample changing apparatus for use with at least one rectangular array of sample vials disposed in columns and rows along respective X and Y cartesiaN coordinates of said array and for transferring all of said vials one at a time to a predetermined point, said apparatus comprising, an apparatus frame, means on said frame defining said point, a transfer station on said frame spaced from said point along a Y-axis coordinate, and means for holding at least one rectangular array of vials on said frame at a location spaced from said station, characterized in that first indexing means are provided for incrementally indexing an entire one of said arrays along the X-axis for sequentially aligning each Yoriented row of vials with said station, second indexing means are provided for shifting each row of vials aligned with said transfer station along a Z-axis to shift said row of vials out of the plane of said array, third indexing means are provided for incrementally indexing each row of vials aligned with said station along said Y-axis coordinate to sequentially position each vial contained in each said row at said predetermined point in seriatim order.

Claim 8

A test sample changing apparatus for use with at least one rectangular array of sample vials disposed in columns and rows along respective X and Y cartesiaN coordinates of said array and for transferring all of said vials one at a time to a predetermined point, said apparatus comprising, an apparatus frame, means on said frame defining said point, a transfer station on said frame spaced from said point along a Y-axis coordinate, and means for holding at least one rectangular array of vials on said frame at a location spaced from said station, characterized in that first indexing means are provided for incrementally indexing an entire one of said arrays along the X-axis for sequentially aligning each Yoriented row of vials with said station, second indexing means are provided for shifting each row of vials aligned with said transfer station along a Z-axis to shift said row of vials out of the plane of said array, third indexing means are provided for incrementally indexing each row of vials aligned with said station along said Y-axis coordinate to sequentially position each vial contained in each said row at said predetermined point in seriatim order.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further characterized in that said second indexing means is rendered operative after said first indexing means and prior to said third indexing means.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further characterized in that said first, second and third indexing means are repetitively cycled in the following order: a. said first means; b. said second means; c. said third means; d. said third means, reversely driven; and e. said second means, reversely driven; until all of said vials in said rectangular array have been transferred from said array to said point and back to said array.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further characterized in that sensing means are provided for determining the presence of at least one vial in each Y-oriented row of said array and for causing said first indexing means to automatically index said array through multiple increments so that Y-oriented rows devoid of vials are indexed past said station.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further characterized in that sensing means are provided for determining the presence or absence of a vial at each X-coordinate in the row of vials being indexed from said station to said point and for causing said third indexing means to automatically index said row through multiple increments so that each X-coordinate in said row devoid of a vial is indexed past said point.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 characterized in that means are provided for transferring each vial positioned at said point from said point to a sample processing station and back to said point.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further characterized in that said processing station comprises a light-tight chamber and means are provided for counting light scintillations occurring in each said sample vial while the latter is positioned in said chamber.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further characterized in that said point and said processing station are spaced apart on a Z-oriented axis.

Claim 16

Apparatus set forth in claim 6 further characterized in that said third indexing means is operative only while said row of vials is out of the plane of said array.